Dr Gregory Stewart and Professor Chris Langmead
The team behind Monash University's Neuromedicines Discovery Centre (NDC) have been named the joint winners of the Research Commercialisation Award in the 2025 Australian Financial Review's (AFR) Higher Education Awards.
Professor Chris Langmead and Dr Gregory Stewart (pictured) represented the NDC team who have won for their outstanding work in establishing new partnerships and start-ups to help address the urgent unmet need for new mental health and neurological medicines.
Alongside leading researchers from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and industry, NDC co-founder Professor Langmead and team have played an integral role in spearheading the establishment of NDC spinouts Phrenix Therapeutics and Pacalis Therapeutics.
Additionally, the team has formed a strong partnership with pharma company, Servier, to support multiple drug discovery programs for neurological conditions through preclinical milestones.
The AFR Research Commercialisation Award recognises excellence in the translation of research into products and companies that are demonstrably delivering commercial/economic benefits, having a significant impact on industry or society, and potentially driving the creation of new industries in Australia.
Professor Langmead said the NDC has been the launchpad for drug discovery programs and biotech spinout companies geared towards finding new treatment options for poorly treated neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
"Through the NDC, Phrenix, Pacalis and other partnerships our constant driving force is to increase the number of safe and effective treatment options for the millions of people across the globe with living experience of poorly treated mental health conditions and other neurological disorders," Professor Langmead said.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Robyn Ward AM said, "It's wonderful to see Professor Langmead and team recognised through these awards - not only as research leaders, but as a team making a profound impact in developing and commercialising solutions for traditionally underserved areas in mental health and schizophrenia. Congratulations to Chris and the team behind these potentially life-changing initiatives."
The NDC was established by the Dean of Monash's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Arthur Christopoulos. Phrenix Therapeutics is led by Professor Langmead and Dr Greg Stewart (MIPS), alongside Associate Professor Jess Nithianantharajah (The Florey). Pacalis Therapeutics was co-founded by Professor Christopoulos and Professor Langmead, along with Dr David Bibby, Dr Warwick Tong, and Jenni Lightowlers.
